Bears Hang Another Eight On Pens

Remember earlier in the week when we noted John Carlson's proclamation that his London Knights were "going to score as much as [they] want" and thought it might be a theme for many a Caps prospect and throughout the organization?

Well, Opening Night for the Hershey Bears tonight saw them rough up Wilkes-Barre Scranton for eight goals (thanks to a 5-for-7 night on the power play), including three tallies and two assists from Graham Mink, a goal and two helpers each for Chris Bourque and Alexandre Giroux, and a goal and four from Keith Aucoin.

This season has all the makings of something very special on many levels.

Update: For more on the game, check in with Vogs, Peerless and John Walton (also note that official scoring changed a bit over night, so I edited a couple of the stats above).

Bad News On The Injury Front

Per Tarik:

"[T]he Caps found out today that they are going to be without left wing Matt Pettinger for four to six weeks because of a broken thumb, and center Boyd Gordon for two weeks due to a sore knee."

Princess and Muffins. Damn.

Alex Giroux will be recalled, as, presumably, will someone else.

AHL All-Stars Announced

Congrats to Hershey Bears forwards Alexandre Giroux and Tomas Fleischmann and defenseman Lawrence Nycholat on being named to the AHL All-Star teams. Kudos also to head coach Bruce Boudreau and his staff, who will be behind the benches for the game later this month.

Giroux and Nycholat were elected starters for the Canadian team and were profiled thusly:

Lawrence Nycholat, Defense (Hershey Bears): Making his third consecutive AHL All-Star Classic appearance, Lawrence Nycholat is currently the league’s top-scoring defenseman with 28 points in 29 games for the Bears. Nycholat also sports a plus/minus rating of plus-14 and is serving as captain of the defending Calder Cup champions. The Calgary native has added two goals and four assists for six points in eight NHL games with the Washington Capitals this season, including his first career NHL goal vs. New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur on Dec. 29.

Alexandre Giroux, Forward (Hershey Bears): Perennial scoring threat Alexandre Giroux earns his first AHL All-Star Classic selection this season, having already amassed 27 goals and 41 points in 36 games for Hershey in 2006-07. A native of Quebec City, Giroux is coming off back-to-back 30-goal seasons in the AHL, and rattled off 11 goals during a nine-game stretch with the Bears from Nov. 11-29. The 25-year-old Giroux has also appeared in two NHL games with Washington this year.

I do have one question, though - why'd Eric Fehr get screwed?